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Congress has one of its least productive years ever

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:24 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - Congress wrapped up its work for the year yesterday, leaving 2023 behind as one of the least productive legislative sessions in recent history.There are fears that the lack of progress could bleed into 2024 because of the many issues that will have to be addressed in the new year. As they headed home for the holidays, lawmakers lamented a legislative year many would rather forget. "We saw a year marked by chaos extremism and paralysis,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).Minority leader Mitch McConnell said, "I'm not very happy with how productive the Senate has been this year."Congress passed fewer than 30 bills that became law this year, leading this Congress to be one of the least productive ever.Republicans say Democrats don’t want to address serious issues like securing the southern border.Democrats say Republicans are wasting time on frivolous issues, like trying to impeach President Joe Biden.“We've seen repeated efforts by Mag...

At least 15 people are dead after mass shooting at a Prague university

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:24 GMT

PRAGUE (AP) — An armed man opened fire in a university building in downtown Prague on Thursday, killing at least 15 people and sowing widespread panic with one of the Czech Republic’s worst mass shootings of its kind, police and the city’s rescue service said.The bloodshed took place in the philosophy department building of Charles University, where the shooter was a student, Prague Police Chief Martin Vondrasek said. He has not been named publicly.Police gave no details about the victims or a possible motive for the shooting at the building located near the Vltava River in Jan Palach Square. Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan said investigators do not suspect a link to any extemist ideology or groups.Pavel Nedoma, the director of the nearby Rudolfinum Gallery, said he saw from a window a person standing on a balcony of the building and shooting a gun.Police said they were still searching the area, including the balcony, for possible explosives. The building was evacuated, Prague M...

E-scooter operator Bird files for bankruptcy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:24 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN’s morning headlines for Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Electric scooter and e-bike operator Bird announced Wednesday it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, with the company adding it had enough liquidity at this time to meet financial obligations and continue operations as usual. However, company leaders said in the statement they want to use the proceedings to sell off assets within the next 90 to 120 days.Officials said in the release the company is "making progress toward profitability and aim to accelerate that progress by right-sizing our capital structure through this restructuring." Officials added services will remain intact for its riders, partner cities, fleet managers and employees.Bird operates in 350 cities across the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Middle East and Australia, per the release. Here in Austin, a spokesperson for the city's Transportation and Public Works Department told KXAN that up to 3,000 Bird e-scooters ar...

Man sentenced for putting bogus bomb outside St. Paul City Hall/Ramsey County Courthouse

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:24 GMT

A man with a history of mental illness who admitted to constructing a bogus bomb and placing it outside the St. Paul City Hall/Ramsey County Courthouse in 2021 has been spared prison time.Dolores Christopher Alvarado, 32, pleaded guilty this month to felony threats of violence with intent to terrorize and was sentenced the same day to 23 months in prison, time that he already had served in custody. He was ordered to follow conditions of probation in an unrelated felony criminal case and of his current civil commitment for mental illness.Dolores Christopher Alvarado (Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)Court records show Alvarado was wanted on a probation violation warrant when he placed the device outside the front doors of the building in downtown St. Paul just before 5 a.m. Dec. 20, 2021.The building and area were evacuated and the St. Paul Police Bomb Squad was dispatched. The device contained various liquids, a pressure plate and wiring that closely resembled th...

$656K secured in unlicensed Saratoga nursing home operation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:24 GMT

BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- According to the Office of the New York State Attorney General, $656,000 was secured in a settlement with an unlicensed operator of the Saratoga Center for Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Home, also known as the Saratoga Center. The Saratoga Center, which was located in Ballston Spa, was investigated after allegations that they were offering worthless aid and services to residents. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! According to the Office of the Attorney General, Chaim "Mutty" Scheinbaum ran the nursing home from 2017 to 2021 without a license from the state. The settlement follows four prior settlements as part of a resolution in February with the nursing home's owners, a second unlicensed operator, and the facility's landlord for over $7.1M. “Every resident of New York’s nursing homes deserves high-quality care and proper staffing to meet their needs,” said Attorney General James. “Rather than ensu...

Lake George brewery awarded $50K grant for expansion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:24 GMT

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Adirondack Pub & Brewery, located at 33 Canada Street in Lake George, has been awarded a grant up to $50,000. The grant is through the Empire State Development (ESD) Craft Beverage Micro Grant Program. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! The funding will help the brewery build a 3,000 square-foot addition and buy equipment to expand its brewing operation. The expansion will bring the Adirondack Pub & Brewery to about 15,000 square-feet in total."We've seen a rise in demand for this selection of beverages and we're excited to have the chance to provide even more for our customers," said owner John Carr. "Currently we’re bursting at the seams. We make everything ourselves, fresh and on site." Capital Region restaurants that opened, closed in 2023 “Through the Craft Beverage Micro Grant Program, ESD is helping New York's craft beer and spirits producers grow and thrive," said ESD President, CEO and Commi...

Fatal Arvada horse crash sparks calls for change from Jefferson County equestrians

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:24 GMT

A crash that injured an Arvada woman and killed her horse in early December is raising concerns in Jefferson County about the impact of surging development on equestrians, cyclists and other pedestrians.Laura Wolf was riding her horse, Griffin, in unincorporated Jefferson County on the afternoon of Dec. 2 with plans to go trail riding when she was hit by a car that ran a stop sign at the intersection of West 52nd Avenue and Eldridge Street.Wolf, a middle school teacher in Arvada, started taking riding lessons at six years old. She’s owned Griffin for seven years.Wolf hit the roof of the car and then the road, where she quickly realized that Griffin’s front leg was shattered and he would have to be put down. She called a veterinarian, who responded to the scene.“It was an extremely traumatic event,” Wolf said. “Anyone who has an animal doesn’t want to have to put them down, but to have to put him down because of someone else’s negligence… it’s extremely traumatic.”Wolf sustained a co...

Kickin it with Kiz Podcast: What’s Russell Wilson’s future with the Denver Broncos?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:24 GMT

In the latest edition of the Kickin’ it with Kiz podcast, sports columnist Mark Kiszla breaks down the Broncos, bourbon and barbecue, and opens up the mailbag. Among the list of topics:Denver Post Broncos beat writer Parker Gabriel joins Kiz to talk about Russell Wilson’s future, the depth of the Walton-Penner ownership group’s pockets and whether Sean Payton is sold on his QB1.Nate Kiszla drops in to rap about all things bourbon and BBQ.Kiz takes his daily dose of X (formerly Twitter) love/hate mail and responds.The Kickin’ it with Kiz podcast is brought to you by Argonaut Wine & Liquor, featuring Buffalo Trace.Subscribe to the podcastSoundCloud | iTunes | Google Music | RSSProducer: AAron OntiverozMusic: “Bumble Bees” by Schama Noel

Will it rain on Christmas in Southern California?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:24 GMT

A powerful storm is dropping buckets of rain on the Southland this week, but will we have a wet Christmas, too?Millions will be traveling to see family and friends for the holiday weekend, so weather conditions can play a huge role. KTLA meteorologist Henry DiCarlo says those who can wait until this weekend to make their journey will be in luck. Dry skies and partly cloudy conditions are forecast for the Los Angeles area Saturday, with sunny skies arriving on Christmas Eve."Speaking of luck, we’re going to have some perfect luck for Santa," Henry said. "Kids don’t have to worry about it. It’ll be dry, it’ll be beautiful, it’ll be perfect flight weather on Sunday night into Monday." Storm hits California: Here are the rain totals so far The nice weather will even extend into early next week. Henry is keeping his eye on a system that could bring a chance of rain later in the week.

'I got nowhere to go back to;' storm floods homes, prompts evacuations in Port Hueneme

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:24 GMT

Several inches of rain hit Ventura County overnight, causing flooding and evacuations for parts of Port Hueneme Thursday morning.The storm was so severe in Port Hueneme that the Ventura County Fire Department said crews responded to 12 swift water rescues. Port Hueneme resident Bob Myers said he was sleeping around 2 a.m. when the sound of water woke him up. “I didn’t hear any rain, I didn’t hear any thunder, I didn’t hear anything in terms of the storm. It was the water, the groundwater, that was coming through into the house,” Myers said.Emergency crews respond to flooding in Port Hueneme on Dec. 21, 2023. (TNLA)Myers estimated the water was three feet deep when rescue crews showed up to help him out of the house. “My house is gone … I’m sure the house is going to have to be gutted and rebuilt,” he said, adding that his home is not insured because it is not in a floodplain. “Where all this water came from, why it flooded like that there, I don’t know,” said Myers, who is unsure of...